Battery Cover Plate Vent Patch for Valve Protection and Leak Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery designs with explosion-proof valves face issues of damage and safety risks due to exposure and vulnerability to external factors, as well as inaccurate airtightness testing, primarily because the explosion-proof membrane is not adequately protected and can be compromised by pressure and foreign substances.

Innovation Solution

A battery design incorporating a cover plate with an explosion-proof hole, an explosion-proof valve, and a protective patch with a notch that forms a cantilever portion, which remains sealed under normal conditions but opens to allow pressure relief and airtightness testing, ensuring the valve's protection and safety through a specific range of thickness and wetting tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the explosion-proof membrane is exposed to achieve explosion-proof effect, then the explosion-proof function is improved, but the membrane is vulnerable to damage from external factors and foreign substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion-proof functionVSAvoiddamage from external factors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The explosion-proof membrane is nested within the protective patch structure, which provides an outer layer of protection. The membrane is positioned inside the sealed chamber formed by the protective patch, allowing it to perform its explosion-proof function while being shielded from external damage by the patch's outer surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective patch acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the explosion-proof membrane. It provides a protective barrier that shields the membrane from foreign substances and physical damage while still allowing the membrane to function when internal pressure exceeds the explosion-proof threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the explosion-proof membrane is protected by covering it, then the membrane is protected from damage, but the airtightness testing becomes inaccurate due to pressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from foreign substancesVSAvoidairtightness testing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The protective patch incorporates a dynamic release structure that transitions from a sealed state during normal operation to an opened state during airtightness testing. The release structure is designed to remain closed under normal pressure differential, protecting the membrane, but opens when the pressure differential exceeds the testing threshold, allowing accurate airtightness measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective patch is pre-configured with a release structure that is designed to open at a predetermined pressure threshold. This preliminary design ensures that during routine operation the membrane remains protected, but when airtightness testing is performed and pressure exceeds the threshold, the structure automatically opens to allow testing without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If a protective patch with sealed chamber is used to protect the explosion-proof valve, then the valve is safeguarded, but the service life is limited due to potential damage from pressure and foreign substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve protectionVSAvoidservice life of protective patch
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective patch provides beforehand cushioning by creating a sealed chamber that isolates the explosion-proof valve from external environmental factors. This protective barrier prevents foreign substances from directly contacting the valve and protects against physical damage, thereby extending the service life of the valve while maintaining its protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively safeguards the explosion-proof valve from damage, enhances safety by preventing foreign object entry, and improves airtightness testing accuracy by ensuring the notch opens only under predetermined pressure, thus extending the protective patch's service life and maintaining battery integrity.

Implementation Method 1

when a predetermined pressure is applied, the sealed chamber may communicate with an outside through the cantilever portion that is opened

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

Anotch penetrating through the protective patch is arranged on the protective patch in a thickness direction to form at least one cantilever portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4258446A1Battery and battery apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 CALB GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4258446A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4258446A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4258446A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A battery and a battery apparatus are provided. The battery pack includes a cover plate (10), an explosion-proof valve (20) and a protective patch (30) arranged on the cover plate (10). A sealed chamber (111) is formed between the explosion-proof valve (20) and the protective patch (30), and a notch (31) penetrating through the protective patch (30) is arranged on the protective patch (30) in a thickness direction to form at least one cantilever portion (33). When a predetermined pressure is applied, the sealed chamber (111) communicates with an outside through the opened cantilever portion (33). The cantilever portion (33) has an area of a mm2. The protective patch (30) has a thickness of b millimeters, where 0.5 mm ≤ a/b ≤ 20 mm and 0.01 mm ≤ b< 1.2 mm, and the protective patch has a wetting tension of c, where 20 N/m ≤ c ≤ 70 N/m.